Robot

ABSTRACT

A robot includes a base and an arm formed by a plurality of members connected by a plurality of joints. The arm has an offset portion where a rotation axis of a certain joint is offset from a rotation axis of the next joint in a predetermined direction and the rotation axis of the next joint is offset from a rotation axis of a joint next to the next joint in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-257212, filed Nov. 10, 2009. The contents of the application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a robot having a plurality of joints.

2. Description of the Related Art

In most typical vertical articulated robots, an arm mounted on a base includes six or seven rotary joints, and portions provided on distal-end sides (robot-hand sides) of the joints are rotated or turned.

The moving range of the hand of such a robot can be widened by increasing the length of the arm. Meanwhile, if the arm is folded so that the hand of the robot is placed in an area near the base, it is necessary to prevent the hand from interfering with the arm. For this reason, the moving range of the hand of the robot is set such as not to include the area near the base.

In recent years, there has been a demand for a robot that can perform more complicated operation and moving range. Hence, the robot is required to operate in a manner such that the hand can be placed both at positions sufficiently distant from the base and positions closer to the base.

As a technique for solving this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-272883 discloses a structure for offsetting the rotation axis of an arm in a middle portion of the arm. According to this disclosed technique, even in a state in which the arm is folded, a wide moving range can be ensured wile avoiding interference between the arm portions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The robot is required to have a more compact size while ensuring a wider moving range. Particularly when the robot is not in use, the arm takes a substantially straight attitude in order to minimize an area where the arm interferes with surrounding objects.

However, when the rotation axis of the arm is offset, as in the technique of Patent Literature 1, even if the arm can be made in a straight form by moving the joints of the arm, the arm protrudes owing to the offset. This limits enhancement of the space saving performance of the robot.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a robot and a robot system that can enhance space-saving performance while widening a moving range.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a robot includes a base; and an arm including a plurality of members connected by a plurality of joints. The arm includes an offset portion where a rotation axis of any one of the joints is offset from a rotation axis of the next joint in a predetermined direction and the rotation axis of the next joint is offset from a rotation axis of a joint next to the next joint in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a robot according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the robot of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a robot according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a robot according to a third embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating the configuration and a moving range of the robot of the third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment Overall Configuration

A first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a robot system 100 according to the first embodiment includes a seven-axis vertical articulated robot 1, a robot controller 2, and a cable 3 that connects the robot 1 and the robot controller 2.

The robot controller 2 is formed by a computer including a memory, an electronic processor, and an input (all of them not illustrated), and is connected to below-described actuators in the robot 1 by the cable 3. The cable 3 is formed by bundling and sheathing signal communication lines between the robot controller 2 and the actuators and power feeding lines for supplying power from a power supply (not shown) to the actuators.

The robot 1 includes a base 10 fixed to a mounting surface (e.g., floor or ceiling) 101, and an arm. In the arm, an arm member (first member) 11, an arm member (second member) 12, an arm member (third member) 13, an arm member (fourth member) 14, an arm member (fifth member) 15, an arm member (sixth member) 16, and a flange (seventh member 17) are connected by rotary joints (first to seventh joints) in order from the base 10 to a leading end of the robot 1. That is, the arm is constituted by the arm members 11 to 17 and the rotary joints.

More specifically, the base 10 and the arm member 11 are connected by a first actuator (first joint) 11A, and the arm member 11 is rotated by driving of the first actuator 11A. The arm member 11 and the arm member 12 are connected by a second actuator (second joint) 12A, and the arm member 12 is pivoted by driving of the second actuator 12A.

The arm member 12 and the arm member 13 are connected by a third actuator (third joint) 13A, and the arm member 13 is rotated by driving of the third actuator 13A. The arm member 13 and the arm member 14 are connected by a fourth actuator (fourth joint) 14A, and the arm member 14 is pivoted by driving of the fourth actuator 14A.

The arm member 14 and the arm member 15 are connected by a fifth actuator (fifth joint) 15A, and the arm member 15 is rotated by driving of the fifth actuator 15A. The arm member 15 and the arm member 16 are connected by a sixth actuator (sixth joint) 16A, and the arm member 16 is pivoted by driving of the sixth actuator 16A.

The arm member 16 and the flange 17 are connected by a seventh actuator (seventh joint) 17A, and the flange 17 and an end effecter (not shown), such as a hand, which is attached to the flange 17 are pivoted by driving of the seventh actuator 17A.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the arm member 13 includes a receiving portion (receiving portion A) 20A that receives the third actuator 13A, a connecting portion (connecting portion A) 20B obliquely extending from the receiving portion 20A to the upper right side of the figure (in the R-direction and a direction towards the leading end), and a receiving portion (receiving portion B) 20C that receives the fourth actuator 14A. The receiving portion 20A, the receiving portion 20C, and the connecting portion 20B form a continuous internal space, where the cable 3 is stored.

The arm member 14 includes a receiving portion (receiving portion A) 21A that receives the fourth actuator 14A, a connecting portion (connecting portion B) 21B obliquely extending from the receiving portion 21A to the upper left side of the figure (in the L-direction and a direction towards the leading end), and a receiving portion (receiving portion D) 21C that receives the fifth actuator 15A. The receiving portion 21A, the receiving portion 21C, and the connecting portion 21B form a continuous internal space.

That is, the receiving portion 20A, the receiving portion 20C, the connecting portion 20B, the receiving portion 21A, the receiving portion 21C, and the connecting portion 21B correspond to the offset portion.

Each of the first to seventh actuators 11A to 17A is formed by a servo motor with built-in reduction gears. The servo motor has a hole through which the cable 3 can extend. The first to seventh actuators 11A to 17A are connected to the robot controller 2 by the cable 3.

When the robot 1 takes an attitude such that rotation axes A1, A3, and A5 (referred to as rotation axes in the rotating direction) are perpendicular to the mounting surface 101 (a state illustrated in FIG. 1), rotation axes A2, A4, A6, and A7 (rotation axes in the pivot direction) are at an angle of 90 degrees to the rotation axes in the rotating direction. Further, the rotation axis A6 is at an angle of 90 degrees to the rotation axis A7.

The rotation axis A1 of the first actuator 11A and the rotation axis A3 of the third actuator 13A are substantially aligned with each other. Also, the rotation axis A1 and the rotation axis A3 are orthogonal to the rotation axis A2 of the second actuator 12A.

The rotation axes A1 and A3 do not intersect the rotation axis A4 of the fourth actuator 14A, and are offset from the rotation axis A4 by a length d1 in a direction horizontal to the mounting surface 101 (in a R-direction with reference to the rotation axis A3).

In other words, the offset refers to a state in which a rotation axis different from a rotation axis at a base end is shifted from the rotation axis at the base end in the orthogonal direction when the robot or the arm takes an attitude such that the projection area thereof on the mounting surface is the smallest.

Further, the rotation axis A4 does not intersect the rotation axis A5 of the fifth actuator 15A, and is offset from the rotation axis A5 by a length d2 in the direction horizontal to the mounting surface 101 (in the rightward direction of the figure with reference to the rotation axis A4).

Therefore, the rotation axis A3 and the rotation axis A5 are offset by a length |d1−d2| in the direction horizontal to the mounting surface 101 (in the rightward direction of the figure with reference to the rotation axis A3).

In the first embodiment, the length d1 is set to be larger than the length d2 (that is, d1>d2). The width of the arm member 13 is larger than the width of the arm member 15.

The base 10 has a cable insertion hole (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cable 3 passes, in order, through the interior of the base 10, the hole of the first actuator 11A, the arm member 11, the hole of the second actuator 12A, the arm member 12, the hole of the third actuator 13A, the receiving portion 20A, the connecting portion 20B, the receiving portion 20C, the hole of the fourth actuator 14A, the receiving portion 21A, the connecting portion 21B, the receiving portion 21C, the hole of the fifth actuator 15A, the arm member 15, the hole of the sixth actuator 16A, the arm member 16, and the hole of the seventh actuator 17A. Further, the cable 3 is connected to the end effecter (not shown) via a hole of the flange 17.

Since the robot system 100 of the first embodiment has the above-described configuration, when the robot system 100 operates with the flange 17 being placed near the base 10 or the arm member 11, in a state in which the fourth actuator 14A is greatly rotated, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotation axis A3 and the rotation axis A5 are offset from each other by the sum of the length d1 and the length d2 (that is, d1+d2), which increases the offset amount between the rotation axis A3 and the rotation axis A5. For this reason, even when the fourth actuator 14A is bent to obtain an attitude such that the rotation axis A3 and the rotation axis A5 become substantially parallel to each other, it is possible to prevent the arm member 13 and the arm member 15 from touching and interfering each other and to allow the flange 17 to reach a lower position near the arm member 11.

In contrast, during a standby state of the robot system 100, the robot 1 is operated so that the rotation axis A1, the rotation axis A3, and the rotation axis A5 become perpendicular to the mounting surface 101. This can minimize the amount of protrusion of the robot 1 in the direction horizontal to the mounting surface 101. In this case, the offset amount of the rotation axes A1 and A3 from the rotation axis A4 is limited to the length d1.

In other words, the offset amount corresponding to d1+d2 can be obtained in the state where the fourth actuator 14A is bent, and the offset amount can be limited to d1 (d1<d1+d2) in the standby state. Thus, a wide moving range of the flange 17 can be ensured by the offset, and moreover space saving can be achieved.

The cable 3 passes through the hole of the third actuator 13A, is gently bent in the connecting portion 20B, passes through the hole of the fourth actuator 14A, is gently bent in the connecting portion 21B, and is then guided to the hole of the fifth actuator 15A. Therefore, even if the angle between the arm member 13 and the arm member 14 is made more acute by greatly rotating the fourth actuator 14A, the curvature of the cable 3 can be limited to a relatively small value. Hence, it is possible to reduce damage to the cable 3 due to the increase in curvature of the cable 3.

In the first embodiment, the fifth actuator 15A rotates the arm member 15, the sixth actuator 16A pivots the arm member 16, and the seventh actuator 17A rocks the flange 17 at an angle of 90 degrees to the pivot direction of the arm member 16. Hence, unlike the case in which the seventh actuator 17A rotates the flange 17, it is possible to prevent an out-of-control point (singular point) from being caused by overlapping of the rotation axis A5 and the rotation axis A7. For this reason, it is unnecessary to perform an operation for avoiding the singular point in the attitude such that the fourth actuator 14A is bent (state of FIG. 2). This increases the degree of flexibility in operation of the robot 1.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a robot system 200 of the second embodiment is different from the robot 1 of the first embodiment only in an attachment direction of a seventh actuator 27A (seventh joint) and a flange 27. Therefore, in the following description, for convenience of explanation, redundant descriptions are appropriately omitted, and like components are denoted by like reference numerals.

In the second embodiment, an arm member 16 is connected to the flange 27 by the seventh actuator 27A, and the flange 27 and an end effecter (not shown), such as a hand, attached to the flange 27 are rotated by driving of the seventh actuator 27A.

Since the robot system 200 of the second embodiment has the above-described configuration, in contrast to the robot 1 of the first embodiment, it is necessary to avoid a singular point caused when a fourth actuator 14A is bent, but it is possible to easily rotate the end effecter attached to the flange 27 by simply driving the seventh actuator 27A. Thus, the second embodiment is suitable for an application in which the end effecter is rotated.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment will be described. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the base adopted in the first embodiment is removed and the body is provided with a pair of (two) arms 400 having a structure similar to that of the arm of the robot 1. Therefore, descriptions overlapping with the first embodiment are appropriately omitted, and like components are denoted by like reference numerals.

In a robot system 300 of the third embodiment, two arms 400 are attached to a body 301 (corresponding to the base) fixed to a mounting surface 101.

The body 301 includes a base portion 301A fixed to the mounting surface 101, and a turning body portion (main body) 301B that turns relative to the base portion 301A via an actuator 301C.

The turning body portion 301B obliquely extends upward (to the upper right of FIG. 4) from the actuator 301C, and has an opening where the pair of arms 400 can be attached.

A rotation axis Ab of the actuator 301C is offset from rotation axes A1 of first actuators 11A in the arms 400 by a length d3 in a direction horizontal to the mounting surface 101 (R-direction with reference to the rotation axis Ab).

In the third embodiment, the arms 400 are attached to the turning body portion 301B in a manner such that the rotation axes A1 of the respective first actuators 11A are arranged on the same straight line (the orientations of the arms 400 can be changed appropriately). That is, the turning body portion 301B also functions as a bases for both of the arms 400. A robot controller 302 is connected to the arms 400 by a cable 303 so that the actuators of the arms 400 operate according to commands from the robot controller 302.

Since the robot system 300 of the third embodiment has the above-described configuration, it is possible to enlarge the moving range where the pair of arms 400 cooperate near the body, for example, during assembly of mechanical products. This achieves further space saving.

Further, the turning body portion 301B obliquely extends upward and the pair of arms 400 are attached thereto. Thus, the offset between the rotation axis Ab and the rotation axis A1 allows the flanges 17 of the arms 400 to be moved to farther positions by rotating the actuator 301C.

In addition, ends of the arms 400 can reach even a space formed near the base portion 301A and below the turning body portion 301B. Therefore, operation can be performed utilizing the space below the turning body portion 301B, and this achieves further space saving.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the robot system of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, while the robot of the first embodiment is attached to the body in the third embodiment, the arm attached to the body may be similar to the arm adopted in the robot system 200 of the second embodiment.

While the robot has seven joints in the above embodiments, it may have three joints. For example, the structures other than the third to fifth actuators 13A, 14A, and 15A and the arm members 13 to 15 in the first embodiment may be removed from the robot. 

1. A robot comprising: a base; and an arm including a plurality of members connected by a plurality of joints, wherein the arm has an offset portion where a rotation axis of any one of the joints is offset from a rotation axis of the next joint in a predetermined direction and the rotation axis of the next joint is offset from a rotation axis of a joint next to the next joint in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.
 2. The robot according to claim 1, wherein the arm includes: a first joint configured to rotate a first member relative to the base; a second joint configured to pivot a second member relative to the first member; a third joint configured to rotate a third member relative to the second member; a fourth joint configured to pivot a fourth member relative to the third member; a fifth joint configured to rotate a fifth member relative to the fourth member; and a sixth joint configured to pivot a sixth member relative to the fifth member, wherein a rotation axis of the third joint is offset from a rotation axis of the fourth joint by a first length in a predetermined direction, and a rotation axis of the fourth joint is offset from a rotation axis of the fifth joint by a second length in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.
 3. The robot according to claim 2, wherein the arm further includes a seventh joint configured to rotate the sixth member and a seventh member.
 4. The robot according to claim 2, wherein the arm further includes a seventh joint configured to rotate on a rotation axis orthogonal to a rotation axis of the sixth joint and to pivot a seventh member relative to the sixth member.
 5. The robot according to claim 2, further comprising: a cable extending at least from the third joint to the fifth joint via the fourth joint.
 6. The robot according to claim 5, wherein each of the third joint, the fourth joint, and the fifth joint is formed by an electric motor having a hole that receives the cable.
 7. The robot according to claim 6, wherein the third member includes: a first receiving portion configured to receive the third joint; a first connecting portion extending from the first receiving portion in the predetermined direction; and a second receiving portion configured to receive the fourth joint, and wherein the cable is stored in an internal space formed by the first receiving portion, the first connecting portion, and the second receiving portion.
 8. The robot according to claim 7, wherein the fourth member includes: a third receiving portion configured to receive the fourth joint; a second connecting portion extending from the third receiving portion in the direction opposite the predetermined direction; and a fourth receiving portion configured to receive the fifth joint, and wherein the cable is stored in an internal space formed by the third receiving portion, the second connecting portion, and the fourth receiving portion.
 9. The robot according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the arms are attached to the base.
 10. The robot according to claim 9, wherein the pair of arms are attached to a body in an asymmetrical form, wherein the body includes a base member fixed to a mounting surface, and a body portion connected to the base member via a turning joint that turns relative to the base member, and wherein a rotation axis of the turning joint is offset from the base of the robot. 